ST. LOUIS – In Joe Maddon’s final game as Cubs manager Sunday, bench coach Mark Loretta delivered the lineup card to home plate before the game against the Cardinals.
Just about game time, former Cubs catcher David Ross – a special assistant in the front office – tweeted a tribute to Maddon, saying, “I learned a tremendous amount from him and wish him continued success in this game.”
Say hello to the early favorites to replace Maddon as the next manager of the Cubs.
Ross has been considered the favorite since team president Theo Epstein made Maddon a lame duck in 2019 by declining to offer an extension then.
“I’ve talked to him about it before,” said Rizzo, who counts Ross among his top two or three mentors in the game. “He’s in a really good place at home with his family and what he’s doing, and he’s happy. [There are] pros and cons.
“Can it work? Yes. But I don’t know what direction we’re going in.”
Lester, one of Ross’s best friends in baseball, said he hasn’t talked to him about it specifically but that the dynamic of having a friend and former teammate make the transition to manager/boss could work.
It was a honor having the opportunity to play for Joe Maddon and winning a Championship with him during one of the greatest runs in the history of the Chicago Cubs. I learned a tremendous amount from him and wish him continued success in this game. pic.twitter.com/xr0OLFSTiZ
— David Ross (@D_Ross3) September 29, 2019
“If that happens, you just have to learn as you go,” Lester. “If it is Rossy, then I’m sure we’ll butt heads just like I butted heads with Joe. But at the same time I’ll respect the hell out of him, and he’s my boss.”
Epstein would not offer a timeline Sunday for filling the job.
FOUR TO WATCH:
Loretta. From the moment he was hired from the Padres organization, the former player with front office experience was viewed as Maddon’s possible replacement. “You can read things into it,” he said at the time. “But as far as I’m concerned, that was not on my radar and nothing we talked to Jed [Hoyer] and Theo about.”
Ross. One of the most popular players on the 2016 championship team, Jon Lester’s friend and personal catcher has remained close to the organization and made no secret of his desire to manage.
Mark DeRosa. Another popular former Cub with managing aspirations, the current MLB Network studio star stopped by Citi Field earlier this month with John Lackey and chatted for about a half hour with Epstein – who considered him for the bench coach job last winter. Before DeRosa left, a Chicago writer asked him about the Cubs job and DeRosa laughed and said something vague about managing some day.
Joe Girardi. The ex-Cub and former Marlins and Yankees manager gets included on these lists by some corners of the Chicago media every time the Cubs job opens. Warning: Don’t believe everything you read or hear in the media.
